Switch.



No. 816,377. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

H. RICHARDSON. y

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1905.

IHHIII rmrrnn srarns Arana onirica.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27', 1906 Application filed August 16, 1905. Serial No. 274,456.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switches, the object of the invention being to provide a simform of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same I will set forth in detail in the following description, while the novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of a switch involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective of an implement suitable for operating the switch.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The dierent operating parts of the switch I prefer to mount in a casing or boxing, as 2, which in practice will be sunk into a road-bed adjacent to a switch-point, as 3, with its upper surface substantially flush with the roadbed. I have shown the casing or boxing as equipped with two covers, as 4 and 5, set into rabbets formed near the upper edge of the casing or boxing and upon a dividing-strip, as 6, extending across the top of the casing. The two covers 4 and 5 are removable. By lifting off the cover 5 access may be had to the working parts of the device for the purpose of inspection, repair, or lubrication. By lifting o5 the cover or plate 4 mud, rocks, and other objectionable matter may be removed from the boxing or casing 2. The latter may be drained of water and moisture by a pipe, as 7, extending therefrom at its lowest point, the bottom of the casing being of such an inclination as to direct water into the lowest part of the boxing or casing, Where it can enter said pipe. The switchpoint or tongue 3 may be of the ordinary kind, and therefore needs no specific description. Extending from one end to the other of the casing or boxing or farther, if necessary, is a slot, as 8, into which a suitable implement can be proj ected from above the casing or boxing to operate from a moving car a switch-governing member, as 9. The switch-governing member may be of any suitable form, but is shown as a wheel of approximately star shape having in the present instance six arms, at least one 0f which always extends into the slot 8, the wall 10 of the casing or boxingV having an opening for this purpose. As the said wheel has six arms, it is naturally given onesixth of a rotation each time it is operated from the implement upon a moving vehicle. The wheel 9 is rotative about a vertical axis in the present case, it being shown as mounted to turn around a vertically-disposed shaft or spindle 1 1, fastened in a boss or hub 12, rising from the bottom of the casing or boxing 2, a washer 22 being interposed between the under side of the wheel and the top of said boss or hub.

The switch-rail 18 fits against the outer face of the boxing or casing 2 andis located above a lateral extension, as 14, of said boxing.

The switch-point near its reduced end is shown as having a pendent projection 1 5, to which the long branch of a substantiallyL- shaped arm 16 is rigidly fastened, saidarm extending into the casing or boxing 2 through an opening in the outer side of said casing. Two springs of unequal strength, as will hereinafter appear, are coperative with said arm 16. The springs may be of any suitable character, although they are shown as being of bowed form, one being denoted by 17 and the other by 18. The spring 18 is stronger than the spring 17. The two springs are located side byside, their adjacent legs or branches being suitably fastened to the depending vertical portion of the L-shaped arm 16. The free branches of the two springs are adapted to bear against the wall of the extension 14 of the -casing and also against the studs 20, hereinafter referred to, respectively. The studs 20 are shown as extending downward from and are rigid with the star-wheel 9. They are shown as being three in number, or half the number of arms or teeth that the star-wheel has. The studs are equidis- ICO TIO

tantly disposed. One of them is shown as being against one of the branches of the stronger of the two springs hereinbefore de scribed, so as to press such branch, which is free toward the companion branch, and thereby put the other spring, or the weaker one, under tension. It therefore follows that when said stud which is against said spring 18 passes free of the latter said spring 18 may relaN. In other words, it is released, the consequence being that the spring 17 will be also released from pressure or tension, 'and as it is such spring 17 can relax, and as it does so that leg of it which is connected with the arm 16 presses against said arm,

i the other leg being, of course, against afixture,

so that the switch-point through said arm is bodily shifted. To carry the stud out of engagement with the spring, it is necessary to operate the wheel 9. This can be done by acting upon that arm of the wheel which extends across the slot 8 and imparting to said wheel a one-sixth rotation. When such step or one-sixth rotation is completed, the free leg or branch of the spring 18 will enter the space between two studs, and this relation will be maintained until the wheel 9 is again given a one-sixth turn. Vhen it is given such a turn, a second stud will ride against and then along the free branch or leg of the spring 18, therebyT putting such spring under compression or tension, and as the spring 18 is of greater power than the spring 17 the latter will be tensioned, and simultaneously the tongue 3 will be shifted to the original position. I have indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 the direction of motion the star-wheel is turned to secure the operations set forth.

By virtue of the construction described the switch-point or tongue remains positively in each of its two positions, having no tende ency in itself to move from either of them.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown a switch-rail or switch-section which forms a continuation of one of the rails of a main track or line and one of the rails of a branch track or line, the said main and branch rails being denoted, respectively, by 25 and 26 and said switch-section being designated by the letter S. It will be assumed that a car is traveling from the left toward the right in said Fig. 1 and that the parts are in the positions in said iigure, one of the studs 2() being against and holding the spring 18 under compression and the point or tongue 3 being so located as to cause the car to travel from the main line onto the siding or branch line. Should the operator of the car desire to keep upon the main line, he will operate the wheel 9 one step. This will take the stud 20 away from the spring, thereby permitting the latter to expand and also permitting the expansion of the weaker spring 17. The arm 16 as the spring 17 expands is thrown thereby in such manner as to carry the reduced end of the switch-point out of contact with that part of the switchrail or switch-section which communicates with the rail 25. When the wheel 9 is given a one-sixth turn, this, as previously stated, brings the second arm across the slot 8 and so positions the wheel that the free branch of the spring 18 will lie between two of the studs 20. Should a second car approach the point 3 from the left and should the operator in charge thereof desire to take the siding, the wheel 9 will be given a onesixth turn by the operator, so as to cause a second stud 20 to compress the spring 18, and thereby cause said spring to put the reduced end of the switch-point against the main rail 25, so that the object desired can be attained. In other words, the parts are returned to the positions shown in Fig. 1 on the second motion of the switch-point. A car can freely run from the siding or branch line onto the main line from the right in Fig. 1 or can continue along the main line, for in the latter case when its wheels strike the switch-point they will push the same sidewise away from the main rail and put the spring 17 under compression, so that the spring when the wheels pass free of the point can shift the point against the main rail.

It will be understood from what I have hereinbefore stated that the switch-point or tongue can be operated by a motorman or driver or other person on a car or vehicle without stopping such car or vehicle. The power of the moving car may be used to effect through suitable mechanism the shifting of the switch-point. The latter always remains in the position to which it may be shifted.

The appliance is simple, easy to operate, can be inexpensively made and readily installed, its working parts cannot be reached by dirt, can be easily replaced or repaired, and its employment effects a saving of time and labor over certain existing apparatus with which I am familiar.

In 'the drawings I have illustrated a suitable implement I, which the car-driver or motorman may utilize to shift the switch.

My invention relates to the switch shown irrespective of the manner in which it may be operated. The switch is adapted to be operated from the car by the motorman or driver, who may be provided with a suitable implement, such as that shown in the drawings and indicated by the letter I,which im plement is provided with a hook whereby it may be conveniently suspended from the dashboard of the car, and when it is desired to switch the car the motorman or driver may remove the implement from the dashboard, insert it into the slot 8, and in the onward movement of the car operate the switch in the manner described. Obviously, however, the switch may be operated automat- IOO IIO

sieste? ically from the car by suitable mechanism. Such mechanism does not concern my invention and therefore has not been illustrated or described.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim isl. Switch operating mechanism involving two springs of different strength, one of which controls the other.

2. Switch operating mechanism involving two springs of different strength, and means cooperative with the spring of greater strength to tension or relieve from tension the spring of less strength, the latter constituting a sWitch-point-governing device.

3. Switchoperating mechanism involving a spring adapted, when freed of tension, to shift the switch in one direction, and a second spring of greater strength adapted, when put under tension, to tension the other spring and to shift the switch in the opposite direction.

4. Switch operating mechanism involving a spring adapted, when freed of tension, to shift the switch in one direction, a second spring of greater strength adapted, when put under tension, to tension the other spring and to shift the switch in the opposite direction, and a member arranged for operation from a moving car, having means to tension or free from tension the second spring.

5. The combination of a switch tongue and two springs of different strength, connected therewith, the spring of less strength acting against a fixture, and mechanism for tensioning or relieving from tension the spring of greater strength, to cause the tensioning of the other spring and also the movement of the switch-tongue.

6. The combination of a switch-tongue, a spring, one branch of which acts against a suitable xture and the other of which is connected with and acts against the tongue, a second spring, one branch of which is also connected with the tongue, said second spring being of greater strength than the rst spring, and means to act against the free branch of the second spring to tension or free from tension the latter.

7. Switchoperating mechanism involving two springs of different strength, a wheel having arms, and means upon the wheel to tension or free from tension the spring of greater strength.

8. Switchoperating mechanism involving two springs of different strength, a wheel, the arms of which are adapted to be engaged to move the wheel step by step, and means depending from the wheel to tension or free from tension the spring of greater strength.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HUGHv RICHARDSON. 

